Cougar News

Nashville, TN - Trevecca Nazarene University (8-4; 1-0 TSAC), ranked 16th in the NAIA national coaches' poll, got off to a fast start, led 44-13 at halftime, led by 63 points late in the game and coasted to an 99-36 victory over Mid-Continent University (1-11; 0-1 TSAC) in a Thursday, Jan. 7 TranSouth Athletics Conference (TSAC) season-opening women's basketball contest in Nashville. MCU hosts Lyon College (10-3, 1-0 TSAC) at the Mayfield High School Sports Arena, Saturday, Jan. 9, at 2:00, in TranSouth action.

     Junior forward Katie Perry (Anchorage, AK/Grace Christian School) recorded her second double-double of the season for Mid-Continent with 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds.

    Trevecca forced 21 first-half turnovers by MCU, which made just 5 of its first 29 shots (.172) and 3 of 6 free throws, and missed all nine of its three-point field goal attempts. Meanwhile, Trevecca shot .482 from the field (13-27), made 5 of 9 three-pointers and 13 of 18 free throws and committed 10 turnovers. The Trojans scored 17 points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Ten Trojans scored in the first half while just three Cougars tallied points. Perry led the Lady Cougars with 5 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, and guard Christian Gibson led TNU with 11 first-half points.

    TNU made 10 of its first 14 shots in the second half, including four three-pointers, and after a 24-8 run led 74-26 with 10 minutes remaining.

    For the game, MCU shot just .250 (14-56) from the field, made 3 of 20 three-pointers (.150) and 5 of 12 free throws (.417). MCU committed 37 turnovers, and Trevecca stole the ball from MCU 27 times and turned the gifts into 34 points. With 12 of its 13 players scoring, the Trojans shot .540 from the field for the game (34-63), nailed 11 of 18 three-pointers (.611) and 20 of 30 free throws (.667) and committed 19 turnovers. Trevecca outrebounded the Lady Cougars, 44-37.

     Junior guard Tiffany Payton (Wadesville, IN/Mater Dei HS/Kaskaskia College, IL) finished with 12 points and 2 three-pointers, all in the second half, and grabbed 5 rebounds, and Perry totaled 12 points and 18 rebounds. Sophomore forward Amanda Daugherty (Golconda, IL/Pope County HS) added 4 points, 3 rebounds, and a blocked shot, and senior center Kandi Knupp (Iuka, MS/Tishomingo County HS/NE Mississippi CC) finished with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and a steal. Junior guard Lindsey Davis (Charlestown, IN/Charlestown HS/ Kaskaskia College, IL) totaled 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.

     Forward Abby Lawson led Trevecca with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals, and Gibson finished with 13 points, 11 in the first half, and 3 assists. Forward K.C. Van Atta added 9 points with 2 three-pointers, all in the second half, and also contributed 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocked shots and a steaks, and guard Chelsey Taylor scored 8 points with 2 three-pointers, all in the second half, and had 2 assists and 4 steals. Center Paige McFarlin had 8 points and 3 rebounds, and guard Shenita Gleaves added 8 points. Guard Lauren Wasson and Kristin Majors each scored 9 points off the bench, as the Trojans outscored MCU, 45-8, with its deep bench.